Scuba diving is an amazing experience and a must for your beach vacation.

When planning a vacation to a tropical location, scuba diving is an activity you should definitely plan to try. People describe their first time scuba diving as entering a whole new world, beautiful and exotic and unexpected. If you enjoy swimming and are interested in the beautiful flora and fauna in the undersea world, scuba diving is a must for your beach vacation. Find a dive location, purchase your scuba dive equipment, and get ready for the experience of your life.

Get in shape

 

Most diving certification courses require some basic swimming skills, like the ability to swim 200 yards without stopping, and the ability to tread water for a certain period of time, usually ten minutes.

In the weeks leading up to your first time scuba diving, spend some time in your local pool. Swim laps to build up your stamina. Tread water, starting with just a few minutes at a time and leading up to longer periods. Don’t plan to go diving unless you are truly comfortable in the water and confident in your swimming skills. If you are at all concerned with your physical fitness for diving, schedule a doctor’s appointment for a physical.

Find a course

 

You will need some dive training in a pool before you are ready to dive in the ocean. PADI is a world-renowned organization for scuba lessons and certification courses. The web site will help you find a scuba school in your area where you can begin your dive training. Your instructor or school will also tell you what scuba dive equipment you need to get started.

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What you will learn

 

Regulator recovery: This is the skill you will need in the event that your regulator, the apparatus that allows you to breathe, is knocked out of your mouth.

Clearing your mask: This skill will allow you to clear your mask if it becomes flooded. It is occasionally necessary to partially flood your mask intentionally in order to defog it. You will learn how to do this successfully.

Removing and replacing your mask: There may be occasions where you need to remove your mask in order to adjust the straps. Very rarely, your mask may be knocked from your face. This skill will enable you to remove and replace your mask.

You will also learn how to move up and down in the water, make sure you are properly weighted, how to get rid of a cramp, how to signal that you are out of air, and what to do in the event of an emergency. After a few hours or a few days of instruction, depending on what kind of diving you want to do, you will be ready to head off on your scuba diving adventure.

Where to scuba dive

 

Many hotels and resorts offer scuba diving packages, so be sure to check with your travel agent or the resort’s booking agent. Often the package will include rental equipment and lessons, in case you require more lessons before your certification. Coral reefs and shipwrecks are often popular places to dive.

Scubatravel.co.uk has a list of the Top One Hundred Dive Sites, with links for further information. Dive-the-World.com is another great site, with tons of information on scuba diving vacations in Fiji, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Maldives, Indonesia, and Burma. They also have a list of resorts that have scuba packages.

Most people find scuba diving intoxicating and addictive, and the experience will be one you’ll want to repeat. Enjoy your time under the sea!